In the shadow of the Sangre de Cristos, echoes of the Old West never quite fades. This was outlaw country once â legend has it that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid themselves passed through these canyons and valleys on their way between hideouts. The same trails they rode are now patrolled by a different kind of posse â one that wears the badge of Custer County and serves with quiet resolve. Today, that legacy lives on through Sheriff Rich Smith and the Custer County Posse: a trained, volunteer force of nearly 25 who ride not for glory, but to keep the peace. From September 12, 2001, to the Sangres I had the chance to sit down with Sheriff Smith one eveÂning at the American…
